Chapter 75

After returning to his office, Jin Yunho quietly sat in his chair, fidgeting with a lighter, waiting for the approval of the report.

This mission was clearly a big trap. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office was looking for someone below to take on this enormous risk. If the decision was right, everyone would be happy; if it was wrong, the prosecutor who made the decision would have to take the blame and bear all the responsibility.

Everyone understood this principle, so the report to release Kim Taevoon should be smoothly approved.

Sure enough, an hour later, after a review, the report was approved by the江南地方检察厅 (Gangnam District Prosecutors' Office) and submitted to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Ministry of Justice.

Finally, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Ministry of Justice jointly made the final approval, unanimously agreeing with Jin Yunho's opinion and decision to release Kim Taevoon early, with Jin Yunho being fully responsible for the matter.

"Really, they can't wait to wash their hands of this."

Jin Yunho sneered after receiving the final approval document.

He was just about to instruct Shin Donghae to go together to execute the release order when the door was suddenly pushed open forcefully.

"Prosecutor Jin, it's bad! I found an important piece of information. Kim Taevoon is still in contact with the Pan-West Gang and is suspected of secretly controlling the gang. We can't release Kim Taevoon!"

Yoon Gukhong ran in, drenched in sweat, speaking rapidly and firmly.

"Bang"

Shin Donghae leaped up, knocking over his chair, and rushed to Yoon Gukhong, grabbing his collar with one hand, his forehead veins bulging: "What did you say? Why didn't you report such important information earlier?"

Jin Yunho's report had already been approved, and Shin Donghae knew this. He was a bit annoyed that Jin Yunho had been too hasty.

But after hearing Yoon Gukhong's words, he was the first to get angry, blaming Yoon Gukhong for not reporting the information earlier. Now, it was too late.

"Cough, cough, I only suspected it before. When I interrogated other prisoners yesterday, I found a prison guard to be suspicious. So I secretly investigated him.

It turned out that this prison guard received bribes from the Pan-West Gang every month, providing convenience for Kim Taevoon to make calls and control the gang."

Yoon Gukhong easily broke free from Shin Donghae's grip, catching his breath to explain.

"Yah, why didn't you report this earlier? The boss just submitted the report to release Kim Taevoon, and it has been approved. The documents have already been issued. What are we going to do now?" Shin Donghae pulled at his hair, glaring at Yoon Gukhong.

"What? So quickly?" Yoon Gukhong hadn't expected Jin Yunho to make the decision so quickly.

Jin Yunho made the decision so quickly for two reasons: he was confident in his judgment and wanted to act swiftly to prevent those who wanted to frame him from reacting. The longer this dragged on, the more variables there would be.

However, a mistake still occurred.

"Click"

Jin Yunho closed the lighter he was fidgeting with, stood up, and instructed sternly: "Investigator Yoon Gukhong, based on the information you have, immediately apply for a search warrant to search the residence of the involved prison guard and find concrete evidence. Apply for an arrest warrant to secretly bring the prison guard to the prosecutor's office for interrogation."

"Yes!"

"Also, keep this matter low-key. Don't make a fuss. Keep it as quiet as possible for as long as you can. Keep your mouths shut tight." Jin Yunho sternly instructed the others in the room.

"Yes!"

The other four responded simultaneously.

They all saw that Jin Yunho was not someone to be trifled with at this moment. Even Lee Hwana, who usually liked to put on makeup, put down her makeup mirror and became unusually obedient.

While Yoon Gukhong was applying for the search and arrest warrants, Song Eunji, who rarely initiated conversations, suddenly spoke up: "Prosecutor Jin, there is a piece of information on the internet and TV that you need to see."

Song Eunji, who had been staring at the computer screen, immediately stood up, turned on the office TV, and switched to the KBS news channel.

"Dear viewers, this is the KBS morning report. I am currently at the Seoul Supreme Prosecutors' Office, providing you with a live report.

Kim Taevoon, once a notorious figure in society, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2007 for a serious assault. In this case, the victim suffered a disability in his left leg, classified as a sixth-level injury. The victim, unable to bear the strange looks from others, committed suicide.

The victim's wife, upon hearing that Kim Taevoon had reformed in prison, voluntarily went to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, hoping for leniency and requesting the early release of the reformed Kim Taevoon.

Here is the detailed report."

"Ms. Hwahora, what made you forgive Kim Taevoon, who caused significant harm to your family, and request his early release?"

"I saw a news report a few days ago that the government intended to release a batch of reformed prisoners early. This reminded me of Mr. Kim Taevoon in prison.

Three months ago, I read Mr. Kim Taevoon's autobiography. In that book, I felt Mr. Kim Taevoon's deep remorse and his determination to change. I wanted to give Mr. Kim Taevoon a chance to start anew, which is why I made this request today."

"Do you genuinely forgive Kim Taevoon?"

"Yes, I genuinely forgive him."

"Do you believe that Kim Taevoon has truly reformed?"

"Yes, I believe Mr. Kim Taevoon has truly reformed. His words in the book were sincere, and I believe him."

...

After watching the report, the office fell into a long silence.

"Boss... something seems off.

Investigator Yoon Gukhong just found out that Kim Taevoon is controlling the Pan-West Gang. Now, the victim's wife, Hwahora, is voluntarily requesting his early release. This is too coincidental.

Based on my judgment, Kim Taevoon must have threatened Hwahora to make her say these words and request his early release to increase his chances of being released."

After a moment of silence, Shin Donghae speculated.

After hearing Shin Donghae's analysis, Jin Yunho crossed his arms, neither nodding in agreement nor shaking his head in denial.

All the information about Kim Taevoon was in his head.

When Jin Yunho first saw Hwahora, he recognized her.

After the victim committed suicide due to the strange looks from others, Hwahora, as the wife, had caused a commotion, demanding additional criminal penalties for Kim Taevoon. This was clearly recorded in the case file, along with a photo of Hwahora.

However, the court had already made its judgment, and the case was closed. The victim's suicide could not be used to increase the sentence, so the matter was dropped.

Unexpectedly, a year later, Hwahora suddenly changed her stance, saying she forgave Kim Taevoon and pleaded for his leniency, which was very strange.

Moreover, while watching the report, Jin Yunho clearly saw that Hwahora was lying. Every word she said was insincere, and she mechanically repeated the questions asked by the reporter, a typical sign of lying:

"Are you genuinely forgiving Kim Taevoon?"

"Yes, I genuinely forgive him."

"Do you believe that Kim Taevoon has truly reformed?"

"Yes, I believe Mr. Kim Taevoon has truly reformed."

Jin Yunho was puzzled.

Could it be, as Shin Donghae analyzed, that Hwahora was threatened to change her stance?

However, from his observations, Kim Taevoon was not lying; he had genuinely reformed.

But if Kim Taevoon did not threaten Hwahora, why did she act this way today? Why did she go against her true feelings and lie?

"Click"

After fidgeting with the lighter for a while, Jin Yunho closed it and said to Shin Donghae: "Find Hwahora's home address. We will go and meet her."

"Yes"